How do I use my Group discussions on my web site?

Here's a suggestion by RealTown Managing Editor Fran Thorsen:

I have been writing a step-by-step Web site creation chronicle at one of my other blogs, RealTown Report. Recent addition of online discussion forums at my new Point2 Agent web site has sparked some questions about the basic how-to's of adding a discussion forum to a web site or blog.

Q."Frances, I really like your community Blog. My question is, I have a RealTown blog, how do I go about doing a community Blog? Do I have to get rid of the other one? Also, where can I find instructions on how to build one with links to my site as you did? Thanks for all your help!

Q."Fran, I'm really intrigued by the Discussion groups that you've added to your web site. This is a great way to take a static site and make it interactive. Will you share the mechanics of how to establish a Discussion group? Is there a website I can go to? Do you offer classes on how to do this? Thanks for any assistance you can give me."

I wrote an instructive step-by-step formula for creating discussion groups.

Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Managing Editor, RealTown